(Minghui.org) The 50th annual Mayor's Christmas Parade was held in Baltimore, Maryland, on December 3, 2023, with tens of thousands of people lining the streets to watch. Nearly 100 groups joined the parade procession this year, and the approximately 2.5-mile parade route was filled with a festive atmosphere. Falun Dafa practitioners were welcomed by the local people.
The practitioners' waist drum team and a float assembled by practitioners from the greater Washington, D.C., area took part in the Baltimore Christmas Parade. As practitioners demonstrated the exercises on the float, parade spectators were happy to receive flyers about Falun Dafa.
Falun Dafa practitioners participate in the 50th Mayor's Christmas Parade in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, on December 3, 2023.
Practitioners demonstrate the exercises on a float.
Practitioners’ waist drum team
Baltimore is the largest city in Maryland and one of the United States' major seaports. Tom Kerr, Chairman of the Mayor's Christmas Parade Organizing Committee, said that Baltimore’s Christmas Parade is the largest parade in Maryland. Kerr has awarded trophies to the Falun Gong group many times, and the practitioners’ float won first place in last year’s Christmas parade.
Tom Kerr, chairman of the Mayor's Christmas Parade Organizing Committee
“We Should All Practice Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance”
Disharad and Claire saw practitioners for the first time during the parade. Claire said, “They are really cool and they look unique.” Disharad remarked, “It’s really great to see such beautiful traditional culture!”
After seeing the three words – Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance – on the float, Disharad said, “As human beings, we should all demonstrate, stress, and practice Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance, be kind to ourselves and be kind to others so that we can create a more trustworthy world and more united human beings.”
Disharad (left) and Claire (right) saw practitioners for the first time in the Baltimore Christmas Parade.
When Cristina saw the practitioners in the parade she kept applauding them. She said that this was her second time seeing practitioners. Not long ago, she saw Falun Dafa for the first time during the Thanksgiving parade in Silver Spring, Maryland. She said, “I love it every time I watch them in a parade. They are so peaceful, it’s great!”
Christina said she appreciated the message of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance conveyed by Falun Dafa practitioners. “Because it just makes me feel like I have to be a good person. I don’t know how to express it, it makes me feel good, and it makes me spread that message.”
Christina (second from the right) applauds the practitioners in the parade.
Baltimore Police Officer: “All People Need Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance”
Lakishia, a police officer, was doing security for the parade. When the Falun Gong procession came into sight, she stared intently at the practitioners demonstrating the exercises on the float, and then asked a practitioner for more information. She said, “It's very good. I like them. Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance are really good! This is what we all need.”
Lakishia (middle) and another police officer learn about Falun Dafa from a practitioner.
Tina Thomas, executive director of the Baltimore nonprofit Action for Kindness, attended the parade. The three words – Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance – on the float resonated with her heart. “It’s so wonderful!” she said.
Tina Thomas participates in the parade.
“Falun Dafa Float Brings Joy and Peace”
Tommy and Joy watched the parade from the side of the road. They eagerly reached out to a practitioner for leaflets. Tommy said he liked the practitioners’ contribution to the parade. “They have a great atmosphere. Everyone seems really friendly, and I want to get to know them,” he said.
Joy said that the message of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance conveyed by Falun Dafa practitioners injects mindfulness into the community, which is a physical and mental cultivation method. Tommy added, “It makes people more peaceful and makes them better people.”
Tommy said that people in Baltimore need Falun Dafa. Joy said, “This is really good. We like to see [Falun Dafa practitioners’] float every year. It brings us joy and peace.”
Tommy (middle) and Joy (first from left) ask for fliers from a practitioner.
It was the first time for Ginnie to see Falun Dafa practitioners, and she kept applauding and cheering for them. She said that Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are great and peaceful principles, and the practitioners' waist drum performance looked really fun.
Ginnie said that when she saw the Falun Gong practitioners demonstrating the exercises on the float, she realized that it was important to find inner peace and then pass that peace on to others.
Ginnie (right) applauds the practitioners.
Kellie and her husband each received a Falun Dafa leaflet, which they read carefully. Kellie said she had just been diagnosed with high blood pressure and wanted to try meditation. The exercise demonstration on the float made her very interested in the Falun Dafa exercises, and she made a point to find the Falun Dafa website information on the flyer.
Kellie and her husband read Falun Dafa leaflets.
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